Employment - School Preparation
School-based preparatory experiences occur in the educational environment. This section focuses on engaging students in instruction, career assessment, career exploration, and career planning.As students prepare to transition from the K-12 educational system into adulthood, there is a strong focus on employment.
The employment section of this site offers links to resources that help students set and achieve their postsecondary employment goals and plan for their future. It also provides links to resources for teachers, parents and other youth serving professionals. It is divided into sections that address school preparatory experiences, career development and work-based learning, youth leadership, family role, and collaboration with key stakeholders.
School Preparation
School-based preparatory experiences occur in the classroom and the educational environment. This section focuses on engaging students in instruction, career assessment, career exploration, and career planning. Evidence-based practices that have proven effective in the classroom are career awareness, work experience and work-based learning.
Transition Planning: The Basics
(PDF; 54MB)
School-based preparatory experiences are referenced on pages 12-19 and page 26 of this guide.
These pages also provide information on how to comply with elements 1-6 of the Indicator 13 requirements of the California Annual Performance Report (APR)
.
Interest Inventories, Vocational Evaluations, and Transition Assessments
California Career Resource Network E-Portfolio
Includes assessment resources, student e-portfolio, California Career Center, California Career Zone, and Career Surfer Mobile Application.
Transition Coalition E-Jam Assessment
Registration on this site would allow log in, and review of peer reviewed assessments.
Transition Health Care Checklist
A tool to evaluate transition needs and health care needs.
Curriculum and Instruction
Integrating Career Awareness Curriculum
(PDF)
A guide for integrating career awareness into the classroom.
Buck Institute for Education Project Based Learning
In Project Based Learning (PBL), students go through an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge. Rigorous projects help students learn key academic content and practice 21st Century Skills such as collaboration, communication and critical thinking. This site provides resources to understanding and implementing PBL.
Career Exploration and Research
California Career Zone
The California CareerZone helps students, educators, jobseekers, and others access up-to-date information on wages, job openings along with great information on career.
California Department of Rehabilitation
The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) provides services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.
O’NET
O*NET Online is a tool for career exploration and job information. It has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, students, and more.
My Next Move
A user-friendly version of O’NET for students and job seekers with easy-to-use search and career overviews and links to the Web-based Interest Profiler.
Labor Market Career Exploration Tools
Includes California Career Guides, employment projections, employers in the region and in your community.
- State of California Employment Development Department Web site
- State of California Employment Development Department, Overview - Labor Market Information
Specific Disability Populations
Do2learn Job Tips
Offers real world examples and assistance to teens and adults transitioning to the workplace. It provides learning resources, guided exercises, graphic organizers, role-playing scenario cards, prescreening tests, video tutorials, and visual prompts to help individuals with any learning style get and keep a job.
Office of Disability Employment Policy Healthy Transitions
(PDF)
Healthy Transitions: A Pathway to Employment for Youth with Chronic Health Conditions and Other Disabilities.
American Federation for the Blind
CareerConnect is an employment information resource developed by the American Foundation for the Blind for job seekers who are blind or visually impaired. CareerConnect presents employment information, career exploration tools, and extensive job seeking guidance for students and adults with vision loss and the professionals who work with them.